East Coast Occupational Therapy Inc.

09/02/2023

We’re honoured to be nominated again this year!

Official 2023 Community Voting Awards Platform for Halifax, NS. Where the community votes for their favourites every year.

09/10/2021

As the pandemic wears on, you may find yourself feeling tired, stressed, or more irritable than usual. Clients we work with often report that small challenges in their daily life suddenly feel insurmountable and they are easily overwhelmed when faced with tasks they would typically manage with ease. Many are working from home and question why they feel increasing stress related to their work, and have difficulty separating work from their personal lives. Others note a lack of balance in their daily routine, including parents who are working to balance their work, parenting, and spousal roles.

An occupational therapist can assist to identify symptoms of mental distress, such as feelings of depression, stress, and anxiety. We work with clients to develop strategies to address these symptoms, and implement those strategies into their daily life in a practical way. We assist clients to develop healthy routines, formulate short and long-term goals, and devise step-by-step plans to work toward achievement of those goals. We can also work with you to address issues with addiction, self-esteem, and interpersonal relationships, as they affect your daily function.

Many insurance companies cover Occupational Therapy intervention and we will work with you to develop a payment plan that meets your needs. Feel free to send us an email at Info@EastCoastOT.ca or visit www.EastCoastOT.ca. We’re here to help and support you during this difficult time.

08/10/2020

In support of Easter Seals NS and the Drop Zone Challenge I am hosting Yoga in the Park on Sunday, August 16 at 10am! Please feel free to contact me if you would like to participate! Any donation amount is welcome for this important cause.

07/16/2020

Zita of East Coast OT will be participating in a fundraiser for March of Dimes on 3 October 2020. This challenge involves rappelling down the side of 1801 Hollis Street in Halifax – all 22 floors!

I welcome any donations toward this event, which supports Nova Scotians living with disabilities.

Please visit my fundraising page for more information and to make a donation!

https://easterseals.akaraisin.com/dropzonehalifax2020/EastCoastOT

I'm Challenging Myself and Changing Lives!I am participating in the Easter Seals Nova Scotia Drop Zone, an exhilarating fundraising event in which I will be rap

04/10/2020

Hello all!

Just a quick check-in from East Coast Occupational Therapy. CTV posted a nice article on 8 April titled: This is why you don’t need to be productive during a pandemic. The link is here:

https://www.ctvnews.ca/health/coronavirus/this-is-why-you-don-t-need-to-be-productive-during-a-pandemic-1.4888321

Maintaining some key aspects of your routine can be helpful during these times. You might consider having a short list of “essential” daily tasks that you strive to complete. These might include things such as:

- Taking a shower
- Getting dressed
- Taking any prescribed medications
- Eating a nutritious meal
- Going for a walk

You might also consider having a secondary list of “optional tasks” available, and then picking one or two tasks to complete from that list each day. These might include things such as:

- Leisure reading for 20 minutes
- Writing in a journal
- Calling a friend or family member
- Sending a letter or email
- Addressing a housekeeping task such as vacuuming,
laundry, etc.
- Organizing a closet
- Unpacking or sorting through a storage box
- Trying a new recipe
- Raking the lawn
- Cleaning your vehicle
- Playing a new game with your children

This is a time to be kind to yourself and keep tabs on your mental health and well-being as the days go by. Having realistic expectations is important - be mindful of increased pressure you might be putting on yourself and try to avoid phrases such as “I should be doing …”. Monitor your mood and perspective each day and reach out to friends and loved ones when you need support. Remember that feelings of sadness and grief are normal and it’s okay to have days when you feel less motivated. You are not alone in your struggles.

While some people are creating at-home workouts and baking sourdough bread to pass the time during quarantine, others may not be doing a whole lot. And that’s OK, experts say.

03/25/2020

In accordance with NS provincial guidelines, East Coast OT has discontinued all non-urgent in-person meetings at this time. We continue to provide Telehealth support and are available by email at Info@EastCoastOT.ca.

We understand this can be a difficult time for many. Please see the attached tips for coping with Covid-19:

https://www.eastcoastot.ca/an-update-regarding-covid-19/

12/23/2019

Happy Holidays from East Coast Occupational Therapy!

The holidays are often filled with celebrations and family traditions but they can also be a stressful time for some of our friends, neighbours and loved ones. Grief regarding loved ones lost, memories of past holiday times, or feelings of loneliness can be overwhelming for some. Sometimes a quick phone call or message can lift spirits and let someone know you are thinking of them. Alternatively, some prefer to have time alone at this time of year and checking in with support for those choices can be the best way to share your love and understanding.

An OT can help those who struggle with grief or mental illness to find ways of coping with their symptoms and re-connect with their friends, family and community. Feel free to contact us to discuss your needs and concerns.

Warm wishes to all!

Zita MacDow
Managing Clinician
East Coast Occupational Therapy

East Coast Occupational Therapy | Occupational Therapists Halifax

10/10/2019

Zita MacDow is now a PGAP service provider. Please call or e-mail to discuss your needs or inquire about this service.

"Each year, hundreds of thousands of people become disabled due to injury or illness. Whether addressed in relation to personal, social or health care costs, chronic disability remains one of the most expensive health problems facing modern society. PGAP® was designed to prevent or reduce the severity of disability that can arise following injury or illness.

The primary goals of PGAP are to reduce psychosocial barriers to rehabilitation progress, promote re-integration into life-role activities, increase quality of life, and facilitate return-to-work. These goals are achieved through targeted treatment of psychosocial risk factors, structured activity scheduling, graded-activity involvement, goal-setting, problem-solving, and motivational enhancement."

Source: https://www.pgapworks.com/en/index.php

PGAP is a risk-targeted program designed to reduce work disability associated with a wide range of debilitating health and mental health conditions.

04/05/2019

Autism Nova Scotia, in partnership with Sobeys, has created a Sensory Friendly Shopping Time, every other Sunday from 6pm - 7pm, beginning February 24, 2019.

This initiative may benefit not only those with ASD, but also those with brain injuries, PTSD, and anxiety, particularly when triggered in social settings.

East Coast OT works with clients who have difficulty completing daily tasks, such as grocery shopping and running community errands. We support this project, and its benefits for the community.

http://www.autismnovascotia.ca/event/724

04/05/2019

April is Autism Acceptance Month, and World Autism Awareness Day took place on April 2! According to estimates from the CDC's Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network, about 1 in 68 children has been identified with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

Autism Nova Scotia offers more information here:
http://www.autismnovascotia.ca/

04/03/2019

My webpage is now live! Many thanks to Greg Stokes at Screenlevel Web Solutions for all their hard work!

www.EastCoastOT.ca

East Coast Occupational Therapy | OT Clinicians HRM Halifax, Dartmouth, Bedford, Sackville, NS, Nova Scotia

04/03/2019

Accessible Parking Survey in HRM:

Accessible Parking Survey by EastCoastOT | Mar 29, 2019 | EastCoastOT News HRM is seeking public feedback about accessible parking. This is an important issue that warrants a few minutes of your time. The survey is short, and can be found here – www.shapeyourcityhalifax.ca/accessibleparking

04/03/2019

The following links provide information on some of the support services available in HRM and throughout the province.

Community Support by EastCoastOT | Mar 29, 2019 | EastCoastOT News The following links provide information on some of the support services available in HRM and throughout the province of Nova Scotia: Easter Seals www.easterseals.ns.ca Offers a loan program for assistive devices and equipment, as wel...